Their first project was the acquisition of the D&RGW caboose that sits on Main Street and served as a Visitor Center. Not long after that, the purchase of old rolling stock and other railroad equipment earmarked for future restoration was accomplished.

The gathering of artifacts and historical related properties such as the old Engine Shed rounded out the early years, along with long range plans and dreams of recapturing a bygone era of steam locomotives and mixed trains rolling through the Wet Mountain Valley.